Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report August 19, 2013
By Steve Suman
The mild temperatures enjoyed last week are giving way to extremely warm (hot!) temperatures to and through this weekend, with the forecast including a few solid chances for rain showers.
“Fishing slowed somewhat last week with the weather changes,” says Pat at Happy Hooker, “but should improve with the warmer, more stable weather this week.
“Muskies are responding to bucktails, crankbaits, jerkbaits, and surface lures. Largemouth action is good on plastics, spinnerbaits, and crankbaits around shallow structure such as piers, timber, and cribs.”
Jim at Hayward Bait says walleyes are active during mid-day hours on weeds and gravel bars in 8-20 feet of water.
“Both live bait and trolling work well, and anglers are catching some fish suspending over deep water. Largemouth action is very good in/on shallow lily pads and weed edges with plastic worms, jerkbaits, and topwaters.”
Guide Dave Dorazio at Outdoor Creations says muskie fishing is decent on the Chippewa Flowage.
“Work topwaters and bucktails over and along weed beds. Evenings are prime time, especially on bright days.
“Largemouth action is good on the west side with weedless plastics in the slop and along bog edges.”
Randy at Jenk’s says Chippewa Flowage muskie action is best with bucktails and surface baits on bar edges.
“Walleye fishing remains tough, perhaps due to too much forage. We see this every year at the end of June and beginning of July, but with the late ice-out it may be happening now.”
Carolyn at Anglers All in Ashland says smallmouth are in their usual August haunts, with larger fish in deeper water.
“There are reports of coho around Pike’s Bay, so salmonids are moving shallower on some days. Depths for trout and salmon vary from 20-100 feet. Anglers should start shallow in early morning and move deeper with the rising sun. Best action is on spoons, Spin-N-Glos, and bait flies.”
DNR fisheries biologist Max Wolter says mercury is a heavy metal that can build up in fish and be hazardous for human consumption.
“The DNR releases annual advisories for anglers to follow on specific lakes with high levels of mercury. This information is available on the DNR website or at DNR service centers. The advisories for two local lakes have changed based on new data.
“The Winter Lake advisory is more restrictive for black crappie at one meal per week for children and for women to 50 years of age. The Spider Lake advisory is less restrictive for walleye over 22 inches at one meal per month for children and for women to 50 years of age.”
DNR fisheries biologist Skip Sommerfeldt says more moderate, stable weather last week improved fishing success.
“Muskie activity showed a nice surge and most anglers report good action along weed edges and deep breaklines with jerkbaits and swim baits.
“Largemouth are relating to thick cover, with the most productive presentations soft plastics and weedless topwaters fished in wood, weed pockets, and tight to bog/marsh edges.”
It is only mid-August, but thoughts of fall activities are already moving to the forefront. The sale of antlerless deer tags began August 17 and remaining fall turkey permits go on sale starting Saturday August 24. Early Canada goose and mourning dove seasons open September 1 and bear season opens September 4.
FISHING REPORT
Muskie: Following a somewhat unusual slow period this summer, muskie action is taking a good turn. Fish are moving all day, though evening fishing moves the odds in your favor. You will find muskies on deep weeds, weedlines, drop-offs, humps, bars, and breaklines, but do not overlook shallower structure. Bucktails, Bull Dawgs, and topwaters work well, with plastics, jerkbaits, crankbaits, and gliders also hooking fish.
Walleye: Walleye success remains erratic, though anglers report improving action. Depths vary from 8-30 feet and deeper, depending on conditions, lake, and time of day. Holding areas include weeds, weedlines, breaklines, gravel bars, brush, sunken bogs, and rock humps. The leech and minnow bite continues, but minnows – fatheads and walleye suckers – are starting to produce catches. Fish the baits on slip bobbers, Lindy Rigs, spinner rigs, and plain hooks with split shot. Trolling or casting crank, stick, or minnow baits in the late evening hours is also effective.
Northern: Northern pike fishing is good, improving with the cooler water. You will find pike around weeds, weedlines, and weed flats, from shallow to deep. Spinners, spinnerbaits, spoons, surface and swim baits, buzz baits, crank and chatter baits are all catching fish, but it is difficult to beat a northern sucker under a bobber. For trophy pike, fish deeper water with bigger baits.
Largemouth Bass: Largemouth bass action is very good and consistent, with anglers taking some nice fish. You will catch them in/on/near thick weeds, weed edges, wood, lily pads, slop, brush, bogs, docks, cribs, and other cover in depths out to 12 feet. Most bass anglers are throwing weedless plastics, plastic worms, jerkbaits, crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and topwaters, but do not overlook live crawlers for bass bait.
Smallmouth Bass: Smallmouth bass are also providing consistent fishing action. Look for fish on weed edges, wood, bars, humps, breaklines, and cribs in deeper water or adjacent to deeper water. The best choice in artificials includes tubes, plastic worms, spinners, spinnerbaits, and topwaters. Leeches and crawlers currently get the nod for live bait.
Crappie: Crappie action is good, with best success in early mornings and late afternoons. Fish are scattered at various depths, near weeds, weedlines, cribs, brush, and bogs, and suspending over deep water. Top baits include crappie minnows, small fatheads, plastics, and Gulp! baits fished on jigs or plain hooks, with or without bobbers – but slip bobbers can hold your bait on a fish’s nose. Beetle Spins are also catching crappies.
Bluegill: Bluegill fishing is very good for smaller fish in shallower water and fair to good for bigger ‘gills in deeper water. Look for weeds, weedlines, and brush. The most productive baits are waxies, worms, leaf worms, crawlers, leeches, small minnows, plastics, and Gulp! baits fished on small jigs, ice jigs, and plain hooks, with or without bobbers.
Upcoming Events
Aug. 17: Unit-specific antlerless deer tags now on sale.
Aug. 20: Deadline to transfer Class A Bear licenses to youth hunters.
Aug. 24: Remaining fall turkey permits go on sale.
Through Aug. 31: Training dogs by pursuing bear (see regs for exceptions).
Sept. 1: Seasons open: Early Canada goose (see regs); Mourning dove; Wild ginseng.
Sept. 1: Application deadline for hunters with disabilities to participate in sponsored hunt.
Sept. 4: Bear season opens (see regs).
Sept. 7: Hook-and-line lake sturgeon season opens on designated waters.
Sept. 14: Seasons open: Early archery deer; Ruffed grouse in Zone A; Fall turkey; Gray and fox squirrel; Cottontail rabbit in northern zone; Fall crow.
Sept. 15: Early Canada goose season closes.
For more information on area events and activities, visit the Hayward Lakes Visitor and Convention Bureau website, view its Calendar of Events, or call 1-800-724-2992.